Canadian Teachers to go on 'Full-scale Strike' Starting June 17

A teacher looks back at family members waiting outside a high school during the national college entrance exam in Wuhan, Hubei province, June 7, 2014. According to Xinhua News Agency, about 9.39 million students would take China's national college entrance exams or "gaokao" from June 7 to 8, which is a fiercely competitive test that is seen as make-or-break for getting ahead.
REUTERS/Stringer

Canadian teachers in British Columbia are set go on a full-scale strike starting June 17 if the government and the BC Teachers' Federation do not settle to have a contract agreement by the weekend.

Union President Jim Iker said the BCTF had served the necessary 72 hours of strike notice to be eligible for going on a full-scale strike. Around 86 percent of 41,000 teachers of the province voted in favor of escalating job action earlier this week, CBC News reported. Iker added Monday would be designated as a study session day.

Teachers will meet with union representatives outside school property, indicating there would be no teachers available at schools. For most of the students, Friday is going to be the last day of the school year. But schools which have an on-going rotating strike on Friday, Thursday will be the final day.

BC Education Minister Peter Fassbender said he was "disappointed" for teachers and students who would want to see a positive end of the school year.

"I am still profoundly disappointed that we have found ourselves in the potential for a full walkout. And the study session on Monday could mean for some schools, today is the last day of school," Fassbender said.

"If the BCTF was prepped to end the strike, we are committed and we will still be at the table 24/7 to get a negotiated settlement," he added.

"If the BCTF comes with reasonable responses to finding a settlement, we will be able to negotiate a deal and that will be good for everyone."

The education minister noted the wage proposal had been revised with the hope that it would help settle a deal.

"I am hopeful. We are going to work as hard as we can to make the movements that we need to make and get a deal," Iker said.